Frameless half-round trailer with butt joints

ABSTRACT

A frameless dump trailer is provided. The frameless dump trailer includes a forward body portion and a rear body portion. Each body portion is formed from two or more panels joined together with butt-joint welds. The forward portion is first formed by welding planar sections together. After the body portion is formed from the plurality of planar panels, the larger planar portion is rolled in a rolling system to define the arcuate shape of trailer body. Then, the forward and rear body portions are welding together with a transversely extending butt-weld.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to frameless dump trailers.More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a frameless dumptrailer formed from planar sections butt welded together.

Background Information

Frameless dump trailers are known to carry bulk materials when towed bya towing vehicle. Typically, the frameless dump trailers include alifting system (often hydraulically operated) to tilt/raise the trailerin order the dump the bulk materials carried thereby.

A trailer body on the conventional frameless dump trailer is fabricatedfrom metallic sections of arcuate panels welded together at overlappinglap joints. Lap joints are utilized because the panel sections arerolled prior to connecting them together. When the arcuate panels arejoined together, the inner surface and the outer surface of the trailerbody is not flush across the lap joint union. Rather, a step-wiserelationship is formed in both the outer surface and the inner surface.

SUMMARY

Issues continue to exist with current frameless trailers and theirmethod of assembly. Namely, it is desirable to provide a flush alignmentof surfaces across joined panels that collectively form the trailerbody. The present disclosure addresses these and other issues.

In one aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure may provide aframeless dump trailer comprising: a forward end spaced from a rear enddefining a longitudinal direction there between, and a first sideopposite a second side defining a transverse direction there between; aforward trailer body portion defining the forward end and a rear trailerbody portion defining the rear end; and wherein the forward trailer bodyportion is formed from a plurality of forward planar panels butt weldedtogether side-by-side at forward longitudinal unions and then rolledinto an arcuate configuration.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure may provide ahalf-round dump trailer comprising: a forward end spaced apart from arear end defining a longitudinal direction therebetween, a first sideopposite a second side defining a transverse direction therebetween; atrailer body formed from a plurality of arcuate plates welded togetherat butt seams collectively defining an outwardly and downwardly facingconvex outer surface on the trailer body and defining an inwardly andupwardly facing concave inner surface on the trailer body adapted toretain bulk materials; a longitudinally extending bottom butt weldedseam between transversely adjoining arcuate plates, wherein the bottombutt welded seam extends from the forward end to the rear end anddefines the lowermost portion of the concave inner surface on thetrailer body; and a trolley supporting the trailer body from belowadjacent the rear end.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure may provide amethod of forming a frameless dump trailer comprising the steps of:providing a first planar plate and a second planar plate; abutting thefirst and second planar plates and aligning flushly at least one surfacesurfaces on the first and second planar plates; welding the first andsecond planar plates at a first butt weld to establish a larger planartrailer body portion; and after welding the first and second planarplates together with the first butt weld, then rolling the larger planarfirst trailer body portion to establish an arcuate body portion.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure may provide aframeless dump trailer. The frameless dump trailer includes a forwardbody portion and a rear body portion. Each body portion is formed fromtwo or more panels joined together with butt joint welds. The forwardportion is first formed by welding planar sections together. After thebody portion is formed from the plurality of planar panels, the largerplanar portion is rolled in a rolling system to define the arcuate shapeof trailer body. Then, the forward and rear body portions are weldedtogether with a transversely extending butt weld.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A sample embodiment of the disclosure is set forth in the followingdescription, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctlypointed out and set forth in the appended claims. The accompanyingdrawings, which are fully incorporated herein and constitute a part ofthe specification, illustrate various examples, methods, and otherexample embodiments of various aspects of the disclosure. It will beappreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groupsof boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of theboundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that insome examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or thatmultiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, anelement shown as an internal component of another element may beimplemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore,elements may not be drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a PRIOR ART frameless dump trailer;

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the PRIOR ART frameless dump trailertaken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section view of the PRIOR ART frameless dumptrailer detailing the region labeled “SEE FIG. 3” in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a frameless dump trailer inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a trailer body of the firstembodiment detailing curved panels;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the trailer body of the firstembodiment detailing planar panels;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the trailer body of the firstembodiment detailing a partially formed trailer body wherein the planarpanels are joined together prior to being rolled into an arcuateprofile;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the trailer body of the firstembodiment detailing the partially formed trailer body wherein thejoined panels have been rolled in a rolling system as larger sheets toprovide the arcuate profile of the trailer body;

FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the trailer body of the firstembodiment detailing the formed trailer body where a forward bodyportion is joined with a rear body portion;

FIG. 8A is a cross section view taken along line 8A-8A in FIG. 7Adepicted a uniform thickness across the panels such that the inner andouter surfaces of the trailer body are flush;

FIG. 8B is a cross section view similar to FIG. 8A but depicting athicker intermediate panel to define a step-wise profile of the innersurface and a flush outer surface;

FIG. 8C is a cross section view similar to FIG. 8A but depicting athicker intermediate panel to define a step-wise profile of the outersurface and flush inner surface;

FIG. 9A is a cross section view taken along line 9A-9A in FIG. 7Cdepicting a uniform radius of curvature after the planar forward portionhas been rolled;

FIG. 9B is a cross section view similar to FIG. 9A depicting anon-uniform radius of curvature of the thicker panel depicted in FIG.8B;

FIG. 9C is a cross section view similar to FIG. 9A depicting anon-uniform radius of curvature of the thicker panel depicted in FIG.9C;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a trailer body of a secondembodiment detailing curved panels;

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the trailer body of the secondembodiment detailing a partially formed trailer body wherein the planarpanels are joined together prior to being rolled into an arcuateprofile;

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the trailer body of the secondembodiment detailing the partially formed trailer body wherein thejoined panels have been rolled in a rolling system as larger sheets toprovide the arcuate profile of the trailer body;

FIG. 11C is a perspective view of the trailer body of the secondembodiment detailing the formed trailer body where a forward bodyportion is joined with a rear body portion;

FIG. 12 is a cross section view of the second embodiment taken alongline 12-12 in FIG. 11B;

FIG. 13 is a cross section view of the second embodiment taken alongline 13-13 in FIG. 11C;

FIG. 14A is a diagrammatic view of a rolling system in operation forrolling the larger planar portions of the trailer body;

FIG. 14B is a diagrammatic view of the rolling system in operation forrolling the larger planar portions of the trailer body; and

FIG. 14C is a diagrammatic view of the arcuate body profile imparted tothe welding panels by the rolling system.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As depicted in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, a prior art conventionalhalf-round frameless dump trailer is generally indicated at 1. Theconventional frameless dump trailer 1 includes a forward portion 2 and arear portion 3. The forward portion 2 is welded to the rear portion 3 atan overlapping lap joint 4 located approximately near the longitudinalmiddle of trailer 1.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the conventional half-round frameless trailerforward portion 2 includes a plurality of arcuate panel segments weldedtogether at overlapping lap joints. Particularly, a first arcuate panel5 is associated with the left side of the conventional trailer 1, asecond arcuate panel 6 is associated with the right side of theconventional trailer 1, and an intermediate third arcuate panel 7 isintermediate the first panel 5 and the second panel 6. The first panel 5is connected to the third panel 7 at a first overlapping lap joint 8 andthe second arcuate panel 6 is connected the intermediate third panel 7at a second overlapping lap joint 9.

As depicted in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an angle iron support member 10 mayextend longitudinally along the outside of the trailer 1 and may bewelded to the outer surface of the respective first and third panels 5and 7. A similar angle iron support member 10 may be positioned on theexterior surfaces of trailer 1 exterior to second lap joint 9.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the assembled conventional trailer 1includes a slight step down formed by the overlapping arcuate panels atlap joint 8, such that the inner surfaces of the convexly arcuate innersurfaces of adjoined panels 5, 7 are not flush once fully assembled.This is formed when the panels are rolled to give their arcuate shape.Namely, each individual panel, such as first panel 5, is first rolled ina rolling apparatus as one having ordinary skill in the art wouldunderstand. Then, another panel, such as third panel 7, is rolled in arolling apparatus. Then, the arcuately formed panels are weldedtogether. Because the curved panels are already arcuate, the lap joint 8is formed by overlapping the first and third panels relative to eachother. The lap joint is easy to align and can be easily welded with thesegments already in the bent position. After welding the lap joint 8,the exterior supportive member 10 may be welded to the outside tothereby attach its angle iron, or L-shaped cross section, to both thethird panel 7 and the first panel 5.

As depicted in FIG. 4, a half-round frameless dump trailer in accordancewith the present disclosure is depicted generally at 20. The half-roundframeless dump trailer 20 includes a trailer body 22, a lift arm 24including landing gear 26, and a trolley assembly 28 including groundengaging wheels 30.

Trailer 20 further includes a forward end 32 and opposite a rear end 34defining a longitudinal direction therebetween. Further, a first side 36(FIG. 7C) is opposite a second side 38 (FIG. 7C) defining a transversedirection therebetween. The transverse direction is generally orthogonalto the longitudinal direction.

The trailer body 22 includes a forward portion 40 and a rear portion 42.Forward portion 40 is associated with the forward end 32 of the trailerand the rear portion 42 is associated with the rear end 34 of thetrailer 20. The trailer body 22 includes a convex outer surface 44spaced opposite a concave inner surface 46 (FIG. 7C) defining acontaining volume therein. The containing volume stores bulk materialsor other items hauled by trailer 20.

FIG. 5 depicts an exploded perspective view of the trailer body 22. Thetrailer body 22 includes a forward first panel section 48, a forwardsecond panel section 50, a forward third panel section 52, a rear fourthpanel section 54, a rear fifth panel section 56, and a rear sixth panelsection 58. Additionally, the trailer body 22 may include a supportivebracing member 60.

As depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7A, the panel sections are planar flatmembers formed from metal sheets prior to being rolled into theirarcuate shape shown exploded in FIG. 5. The forward first panel section48 includes a longitudinal first edge 62 and a longitudinal second edge64. The forward second panel section 50 includes a longitudinal firstedge 66 and a longitudinal second edge 68. The forward third panelsection 52 includes a longitudinal first edge 70 and a longitudinalsecond edge 72.

As shown in FIG. 7A, forward portion 40 is formed planarly when theforward third panel section 52 is welded intermediate the first panelsection 48 associated with first side 36 and the second panel sectionassociated with second side 38. A first union 74 is defined between theabutment of forward first panel section 48 and forward third panelsection 52. A second union 76 is defined between the abutment of forwardsecond panel section 50 and forward third panel section 52. When theforward portion 40 is laid flat as depicted in FIG. 7A, the first union74 and second union 76 are offset and spaced apart parallel relativelyto each other and are oriented longitudinally extending from a forwardend towards the rear end.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, each of the forward panel sectionsincludes a trailing edge positioned rearwardly from a leading edge.Particularly, forward first panel section 48 includes a trailing edge 78and a leading edge 80. The forward second panel section 50 includes atrailing edge 82 and a leading edge 84. The forward third panel section52 includes a trailing edge 86 and a leading edge 88. When the forwardpanel sections 48, 50, and 52 are aligned longitudinally side by sideand welded together, the respective trailing edges 78, 82, and 86 areflushly aligned along a common transverse plane as indicated in FIG. 7A.A common trailing edge 90 (FIG. 7A) of the forward portion 40 of trailerbody 22 is defined collectively from the abuttingly aligned trailingedges 78, 82, and 86.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, the rear fourth panel section 54includes a first side edge 92, a second side edge 94, a trailing edge96, and a leading edge 98. The rear fifth panel section 56 includes afirst side edge 100, a second side edge 102, a trailing edge 104, and aleading edge 106. The rear sixth panel section 58 includes a first sideedge 108, a second side edge 110, a trailing edge 112, and a leadingedge 114. The rear fourth panel section 54 is positioned and associatedwith the first side 36 and the rear fifth panel section 56 is positionedand associated with second side 38. Thus, the rear sixth panel section58 is positioned intermediate the fourth and fifth panel sectionsrespectively. The rear panel sections 54, 56, and 58 are longitudinallyaligned to form a third longitudinally extending union 116 and a fourthlongitudinally extending union 118. The third union 116 is definedbetween the longitudinal abutment between second side edge 94 on therear fourth panel section 54 and the first side edge 108 on the rearsixth panel section 58. The fourth union 118 is defined between thelongitudinal abutment of second side edge 110 on the rear sixth panelsection 58 and the first side edge 100 on the rear fifth panel section56. Collectively, the rear fourth panel section 54, the rear fifth panelsection 56, and the rear sixth panel section 58 define the rear portion42 of trailer body 22.

With continued reference to FIG. 7A, the leading edges of the rear panelsections are aligned flushly along a common plane to define a commonleading edge 120. As will described in greater detail below, when thetrailer body 22 is fully assembled, the common leading edge 120 on therear portion 42 is abuttingly aligned with the common trailing edge 90on forward portion 40 along a common transverse plane preferablyperpendicular to the unions 74, 76, 116, and 118. Additionally, when thecommon trailing edge 90 is abuttingly aligned with the common leadingedge 120, the first union 74 is longitudinally coplanar with the thirdunion 116 and the second union 76 is longitudinally coplanar with thefourth union 118.

With continued reference to the unions 74, 76, 116, and 118, inaccordance with respect to the present disclosure, each of these unionsis a butt joint formed from two adjoining plates abutted together andwelded in place. The respective butt joints are formed by fabricatingthe trailer body in planar sections and welding them together to createlarger planar panels. As will be described greater detail below, afterthe butt joint unions have been formed, the collective planar panel isthen rolled to give the trailer body its arcuate shape. This is in starkcontrast to the conventional half-round dump trailer 1 (FIG. 1; PriorArt) which is fabricated by first rolling its panel sections and thenwelding them together which requires welded lap joints of overlappingsections of material. The butt joints formed from the unions in thepresent disclosure provide advantages over lap joints of conventionaltrailers in that the butt joint unions are easier to assemble, may bestronger in some instances, and can provide a more aesthetic appearancedue to the smooth and flush alignment of the respective inner and outersurfaces across the union. This is distinct from conventional trailersbecause overlapping joints do not provide flushly aligned surfaces.Furthermore, overlapping lap joints may be compromised (i.e. weakened)in strength at the points where the overlap portion ends.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, the supportive brace member 60 isformed from first support member 122 and a second support member 124.First and second support members 122, 124 are structurally identical andmirrored about a longitudinal plane defined by a union 126 connectingthe first support member 122 to the second support member 124. The firstsupport member 122 is initially formed as a substantially planar sheetof metal including a first side end 128 that extends arcuately betweencurved edges extending outwardly to a leading arcuate apex edge 130 anda trailing arcuate apex edge 132. The edges curve taperedly inwardlytowards longitudinally aligned medial edge 134 which is adapted toconnect with an identical medial edge on second support member 124.Support member 122 defines a vertically aligned rounded aperture 136therethrough. Similar reference numerals are used for correspondingfeatures on the second support member 124. In one particularlyembodiment, support member 60 forms entirely arcuate edges when thefirst and second support member 122, 124 are butt-welded together.Stated otherwise, the arcuate support brace or member 60 does not haveany linear outermost edges when the first and second support members122, 124 are connected together.

As depicted in FIG. 7A, support member 60 is first formed by aligningthe medial edges 134 of the first support member 122 and the secondsupport member 124. The aligned medial edges 134 are positioned in anabutting relationship to form a butt joint and are welded together tocreate union 126. Supportive brace member 60 identified in FIG. 7A issubstantially planar prior to being formed in an arcuate manner asidentified in FIG. 5.

As depicted in FIG. 8A, forward portion 40 of trailer body 22 has atleast one planar surface formed from the flush alignment of the forwardfirst panel section 48, the forward second panel section 50, and thethird forward panel section 52. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 8Aidentifies that outer surface 44 of trailer body 22 is substantiallyflat and additionally the inner surface 46 of trailer body 22 issubstantially flat as well. Recall, FIG. 8A depicts the welded sections48, 50, and 52 planar arrangement prior to being rolled to give trailerbody 22 its arcuate profile, which will be described in greater detailhereinafter.

FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C detail alternative embodiments of the presentdisclosure that wherein only one surface of forward portion 40 oftrailer body 22 is substantially flat and coplanar prior to being rolledand formed into its arcuate profile. Namely, FIG. 8B depicts theexterior surface 44 substantially flat and planar and the inner surface46 has a step-wise profile due to increased thickness of the forwardthird panel section 52. The increased thickness of third section 52relative to the exterior surface of first and second sections 48, 50provides a strengthening function for the center of the assembledtrailer body 22. This is beneficial as the trailer body 22 is configuredto haul bulk materials and the intermediate third panel section 52 ispositioned at the bottom of the assembled trailer body 22 which supportsa majority of the bulk material weight being hauled by trailer 20. FIG.8C depicts a scenario where prior to being rolled into its arcuateformation, the inner surface 46 is substantially flat and coplanar andthe exterior surface 44 has a step-wise profile formed from the greaterthickness of the forward third panel section 52. The uniform thicknessof the forward panel sections in FIG. 8A is identified as dimension138A. For the embodiments detailed in FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C, the increasedthickness of the third panel section 52 is identified as dimension 138B.

Reference is now made to the manufacture of trailer body 22 with respectto the welding and rolling process to give the trailer body 22 havingbutt joints in its arcuate profile. As indicated in FIG. 6, the panelsections 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 are aligned in a manner such thatthe forward panel sections 48, 50, and 52 are positioned longitudinallyforward from the rear panel sections 54, 56, and 58. The second panelsection 50 is aligned intermediate the first and second panel sections48, 50. The forward panel sections are welded together to create forwardportion 40. The welds defining the first union 74 and the second union76 are butt joints having no overlap. Initially, the forward portion 40is a planar sheet of metal before it is rolled.

FIG. 14A through FIG. 14C details the rolling process to create thearcuate profile of the forward portion 40 and the rear portion 42 oftrailer body 22. Description hereinafter is made with reference toforward portion 40. However, it is to be understood that the rearportion 42 is formed in a similar manner. Forward portion 40 is fedtransversely through a rolling machine, or rolling assembly 140. Rollingassembly 140 may include a set of pinch rollers and a bend roller whichare detailed in diagrammatic form and are not intended to be limiting asone having ordinary skill in the art would understand. The planarportion 40 is fed between the pinch rollers in the transverse directionmoving along in the direction of arrow A. As planar forward portion 40moves through the rolling assembly 140, a bend roller may bend theforward portion 40 in the arcuate direction of arrow B. As indicated inFIG. 14B, some implementations may include a bend roller movable in thevertical direction as indicated by arrow C to further establish thearcuate profile of forward portion 40 as indicated in FIG. 14C.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the sequentialformation of trailer body 22 may be critical in some implementations.Namely, the butt joints defining the first union 74 and the second union76 on forward portion 40 are welded prior to being rolled in rollingassembly 140. This is in contradistinction to a conventional half-rounddump trailer manufacturing method. Recall that the conventionalmanufacturing method first requires for the planar sheets of material tobe rolled then welds the arcuate sections together using overlapping lapjoints and reinforcing them with a supportive member angle ironextending longitudinally along the length of the conventional trailer.

The butt joint formation method identified hereinabove enables the outersurface 44 and the inner surface 46 of the trailer body 22 to be smoothas indicated in FIG. 8A. Additionally, other implementations may find itdesirable to have only one surface of trailer body 22 entirely smoothand the opposite surface may form a step-wise profile wherein one of thepanel sections is thicker than the other panel sections. Even further,it is still possible for the center forward third panel section 52 to bethicker than first and second panel sections such that the butt jointsform a step-wise profile along the outer surface 44 and the innersurface 46.

After the first portion 40 of trailer body 22 has moved through therolling assembly 140 and given an arcuate profile as indicated in FIG.14C, a similar process occurs with respect to the rear panel sections54, 56, and 58 forming rear portion 42 of trailer body 22. The buttjoint method identified herein above forms the third union 116 and thefourth union 118. After the rear portion 42 has been rolled in therolling assembly 140 to be given an arcuate profile, the common trailingedge 90 of the forward portion 40 is mated with the common leading edge120 of the rear portion 42. The trailing edge 90 and the leading edge120 join together at a butt joint union 141. The butt joint 141 betweenforward portion 40 and rear portion 42 continues the flush and smoothsurfaces along the trailer body when so desired. For example, when anembodiment of trailer body 22 depicted in FIG. 8 is formed, the outersurface 44 of trailer body 22 is flush and smooth across the butt jointunion 141. Similarly, the inner surface 46 may be smooth and flushacross inner portions of union 141.

Referring back to FIG. 7C, union 141 extends transversely substantiallyorthogonal to the first union 74, second union 76, third union 116, andthe fourth union 118. In order to ensure the strength of the trailerbody across transverse union 141, the protective brace members 60 may berigidly secured to the outer surface 44 of trailer body 22 and spanlongitudinally across the union 141. It is worth noting that theprotective brace member 60 may also be formed in a planar butt jointarrangement and then fed through rolling assembly 140 to impart acomplimentary arcuate profile to the supportive brace members 60 havinga radius of curvature similar to that of outer surface 44 on trailerbody 22 (as shown in FIG. 7B).

As depicted in FIG. 9A, one embodiment of trailer body 22 is depictedwith a uniformly arcuate concave inner surface 46 defining an interiorcontaining volume 142 for receiving bulk materials therein. Because theconcave inner surface 46 is uniform across the three forward panelsections 48, 50, and 52, the common radius of curvature R1 is associatedwith each of the forward panel sections. Stated otherwise, the radius ofcurvature R1 is the same for the forward first panel section 48, theforward second panel section 50, and the forward third panel section 52.The uniform radius of curvature across the three forward panel sectionsis accomplished as discussed herein above by forming the three panelsections with an abutting butt joint at the first union 74 and thesecond union 76 respectively.

As depicted in FIG. 9B, one embodiment of the formed trailer body 22 mayhave a convex inner surface 46 that does not have a uniform radius ofcurvature. Namely, intermediate third panel section 52 is raised due tothe greater thickness 138B as indicated in FIG. 8B. Accordingly, asecond radius of curvature R2 is established that is less than the firstradius of curvature R1. As such, a step-wise profile is generated whichforms at the respective first and second unions 74, 76 where theintermediate third panel section 52 respectively connects to the firstand second forward panel sections.

FIG. 9C depicts a scenario where the inner surface 46 of the trailerbody 22 is uniform across the unions 74 and 76, but is not symmetricallyuniform with respect to the curvature of the outer surface 44. Theembodiment of the trailer depicted in FIG. 9C includes a third radius ofcurvature R3 associated with the outer surface that is less than afourth radius of curvature R4. The greater thickness 138B ofintermediate third panel section 52 establishes an outside step-wiseprofile of trailer body 22.

The trailer body 22 and the method of formation thereof as discussedhereinabove is not exclusive to the present disclosure. As depicted inFIG. 10 through FIG. 13, an alternative embodiment in accordance withthe present disclosure depicts a trailer body generally at 200. Trailerbody 200 comprises four panel sections that define the arcuate profileof trailer body 22 when manufactured and fully assembled.

In one implementation, trailer body 200 may include a forward firstpanel section 202, a forward second panel section 204, a rear thirdpanel section 206, and a rear fourth panel section 208. The trailer body200 may further include a supportive brace member 60 similar to thatdepicted herein above. The exploded view in FIG. 10 depicts thegenerally arcuate profile of trailer body 200 formed from four arcuatepanel sections having a longitudinally extending union at the bottom, orlowermost portion, of the trailer body 200 defining an interiorcontaining volume 142.

As indicated in FIG. 11A, a longitudinally extending first medial edge210 is located on the forward first panel section 202. A longitudinallyextending second medial edge 212 is located on forward second panelsection 204. A longitudinally extending third medial edge 214 is locatedon the rear third panel section 206. A longitudinally extending fourthmedial edge 216 is located on the rear fourth panel section 208.

As depicted in FIG. 11B, trailer body 200 is first formed by adjoiningthe first and second medial edges 210, 212 at a welded butt joint toform a longitudinally extending first union 218. First union 218 rigidlysecures the forward first panel section 202 to the forward second panelsection 204 to define a planar forward portion 220 of the trailer body200.

Similarly, a rear portion 222 is formed when the rear third panelsection 206 and the rear fourth panel section 208 are aligned at theirrespective third and fourth medial edges 214, 216 to define a secondlongitudinally extending union 224. On one particular embodiment, thefirst union 218 and the second union 224 are halfway between the firstside 36 and the second side 38 of trailer body 200.

When the forward portion 220 is rigidly formed from the rigid connectionof the first and second panel sections, a common trailing edge 226 isdefined. Similarly, a complementary leading edge 228 is defined on therear portion 222 when the third and fourth panel sections are rigidlysecured together.

Prior to securing the forward portion 220 to the rear portion 222, eachplanar portion is rolled to give the trailer body 200 an arcuateprofile. The manner in which the forward portion 220 and the rearportion 222 are rolled is similar to that discussed above with referenceto FIG. 14A through FIG. 14C.

Once the forward portion 220 and the rear portion 222 have been rolled,they may be abutted by aligning the common trailing edge 226 with thecommon leading edge 228 to create a transversely extending union 231formed at a butt joint between the forward portion 220 and the rearportion 222. The supportive brace 60 may be welded to the exteriorsurface of the trailer body as indicated in FIG. 11C. The exteriorsupportive brace 60 longitudinally spans the transverse union 220 andtransversely spans the longitudinally extending union 218, 224.

As indicated in FIG. 13, the first union 218 and the second union 224may be located at the bottom, or lowermost portion, of trailer body 200.Similar to the previous embodiment described above, trailer body 200 mayinclude a concave inner surface 46 opposite a convex outer surface 44having a uniform radius of curvature R1.

As depicted in FIG. 12, trailer body 200 may also have a uniformthickness 138A similar to that of trailer body 22 identified in FIG. 8Athrough FIG. 8C. While not shown in FIG. 12, there may be plateformations that would have a tapered profile that can be thicker towardsthe center section or the medial longitudinally extending medial planedefined by union 218 to provide an increased strength to the bottomportion of trailer body 200 once the trailer has been rolled and formedinto its arcuate profile.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the preferred embodimentof the disclosure are an example and the disclosure is not limited tothe exact details shown or described.

What is claimed:
 1. A method of forming a frameless dump trailercomprising: providing a first planar plate and a second planar plate;abutting the first and second planar plates and aligning flushly atleast one surface surfaces on the first and second planar plates weldingthe first and second planar plates at a first butt weld to establish alarger planar first frameless trailer body portion; and after weldingthe first and second planar plates together with the first but weld,then rolling the larger planar first frameless trailer body portion toestablish an arcuate first frameless trailer body portion.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein prior to the step of rolling the larger planar firstframeless trailer body portion further comprises: providing a thirdplanar plate; abutting the third planar plate with the second planarplate; and welding the second and third planar plates at a second buttweld offset from the first butt weld, wherein at least one surface ofthe second and third planar plates is flush across the second butt weld.3. The method of claim 1, wherein two surfaces of the first and secondplanar panels are flush across the first butt weld.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: forming a second frameless trailer bodyportion from aligned planar panels butt-welded together establishing aflush surface across the butt welds to establish a planar secondframeless trailer body portion; joining the first frameless trailer bodyportion with the second frameless trailer body portion at a transversebutt weld orthogonal to the first butt weld.
 5. The method of claim 4,further comprising: aligning a trailing edge on the first panel with atrailing edge on the second panel to establish a collective trailingedge for the planar first frameless trailer body portion.
 6. The methodof claim 5, further comprising: aligning leading edges on the panelsforming the second frameless trailer body portion to establish acollective leading edge; abutting the collective trailing edge with thecollective leading edge.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:joining the collective trailing edge and the collective leading edgewith a transversely aligned butt weld; wherein at least one surface onthe first trailer body portion is flush with the second trailer bodyportion across the transversely aligned butt weld.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, further comprising: connecting a support member beneath thetransversely aligned butt weld.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein thesupport member is formed from the steps of: abutting a first supportmember portion with a second support member portion along alongitudinally extending support member union; and welding the supportmember union with a butt weld.
 10. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising the steps of: rolling the support member to establish anarcuate profile complementary to that of an outer surface on one of thepanels on the first and second frameless trailer body portions.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein a surface corresponding to an inner surfaceof the formed arcuate first frameless trailer body portion is flushacross the butt weld.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein a surfacecorresponding to an outer surface of the formed arcuate first framelesstrailer body portion is flush across the butt weld.